Easily the most famous (and imitated) car to come out of the 1960’s is the one-and-only Shelby Cobra. Having been subject to hundreds of kit cars of varying quality, and rising to become among the most valuable collector cars on the market, the history of the Shelby Cobra has been exhaustively collected and analyzed. And with this being the 50th Anniversary of the Shelby Cobra, many of the historically significant cars will be on display at events from one coast to another.
Hemmings Auto Blog reports that the first production Shelby Cobra ever built, CSX2001, will be on display at the Dana Point Concours d’Elegance in California.
The history of CSX2001 is incredibly interesting for a car of such important historical significance. It was purchased from a dealership in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with the intention of racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It never did make it to Le Mans, though this Shelby was modified with various parts by a succession of owners.
Among the modifications is a hood scoop and full roll bar added by the second owner, and a Weber-carbureted 289 V8 along with rack-and-pinion steering. Aftermarket wheels, widened rear fenders, and a custom one-off hardtop were also added, and this Shelby spent a lot of time racing around Europe before being brought back to America. It will be on display at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, California, on June 23rd and 24th, so if you’re in the area, here’s your chance to see the first production Shelby ever built.